Government; Society & Corruption!

When visiting a new country or even community, we just don’t enter into new environments, we just don’t meet new people, and we surely just don’t communicating differently; What we also enter into is completely different lifestyles, different ways of thinking, and historically we will see different social issues that have brewed along the way to political existence. That is why arguably, I believe society is a big reflection of the start of a political government, and to examine a country and to truly understand some of the social standings, one must look back and think about what bred the government structure and its process. What were those issues that wrote the rules? Here in the Dominican Republic I have noticed that faith, oppression, greed, and independence fueled the begging of what I not only call a social unbalance, but also it is what spills in the streets today.

Today the Dominican Republic is among the fastest growing economies in Latin America.  Within the last generation the country’s GDP (gross domestic product) has tripled. However, 70% of the people are affected by unemployment and poverty. The countries public education is poorly funding and the amount of living wage free trade factories have been drastically increasing, both stunting the growth of the low class. 95% of the population is Roman Catholic, which some may argue that faith is another aspect of society that stunts growth. The upper class is historically European descendants with light skin, and the lower class is mostly black, descendants of Haitians and the African slave population. Recently a middle class has been on the rise, and it consists of the multi-racial population who are the majority in the country. Many of the people strive to appear American in terms of fashion, so for me it caused some class speculate confusion. However, there is still a large percentage of the population who live in rural areas, urban slums, and old sugar cane bateys that lack electricity and running water. In this country every two years or so there are protests and strikes to ask the government to reduce the price of medicines, fuels and basic staples; and to end to the unrelenting blackouts. The people are currently asking for an increase in salaries and 4% of the GDP devoted to education. All of this stems from Politics and inequality. I believe greed is in the Dominican culture. I say that because greed is exactly what ignited the growth, and the disparities, not only in the Dominican Republic, but in Haiti as well. When Christopher Columbus found the island of Hispaniola in 1492, he and Spain immediately know they struck rich and quickly exploited the island for its resources. When Dictator Rafael Trujillo took power in 1930 and imposed oppression, the order of class and injustice became a state of nature that still stands today.

The Dominican Republic is a representative democracy.  The current President is Leonel Fernandez and he has been in office on and off since he first took his seat in 1996. Fernandez belongs to the Dominican Liberation Party  (PLD). The President, Vice President, and Congress are elected into power by popular vote every 4 years. The President acts as both the Chief of State and the Head of Government, giving him the right to appoint governors to all twenty-nine provinces, and ultimately he has the say of who joins the Supreme Court (where they pass the laws).  This also means that every 4 years the government starts over with new officials, which many find to be a problem limiting development.

I cant fully distinguish weather the Dominican Republic is theoretically Pluralist or Elite, but if I had to choose one I would say it is Elite because I find that there is a lot of control from the financial institutions, and at the same time the government officials are fully invested in these institutions. Leaving me to wonder who is really running the show. Throughout my research and interviews, there was one word that did not come up short. Corruption! Unfortunately everyone is aware of it and because it is a part of the culture, there is really no actions taking against it from those not in powerful positions. There is also a lot of cover up from the Government. Corruption continues to increase, especially when government salaries decrease. For example, government contracts are often awarded to business in return for donations made directly to the official that made the decision. There was a CNN article I found that stated, “The situation in the Dominican Republic is that organizations that are supposedly involved in fighting corruption and narco-trafficking are involved in it,” said Tomas Castro Monegro (an anti-corruption attorney for 25 years in Santo Domingo, the capital). I am not really sure how deep the corruption is embedded into the society, but I can tell you as a resident for only one month that it is not that hard to see, especially amongst the small authorities that create your own rules. My father warned me my first day that the police will do anything for money, I don’t know why but if he is telling me that, something must really be going on.

The 2012 Dominican election campaigning has kicked off and so far Leonel’s counterpart is Hipolito Mejia, from the Dominican Revolution Party (PRD) is his biggest threat. Hipolito was President of the Dominican Republic from 2000-2004 during a big economic crisis fueled by deep corruption within government officials and bankers from the countries second largest private financial institution called Baninter. However, since Fernandez re-took office in 2004 Hipolito’s ratings have gone up giving him a good chance in this upcoming election. Libertarian, educator, and controversial Rafael Trujillo oppositionist Juan Bosch formed the Dominican Revolutionary Party in 1939 and after went into exile because he feared he would be forced to join the Trujillo dictatorship. He returned upon the assassination of Trujillo in 1961 and in 1973 he left the Dominican Revolutionary Party to create the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD). Back then his initial plan was to make the already leftist PRD more liberal and politically correct. However, today the PLD has   managed to lean more to the right by supporting more neoliberal bills, and by gearing its focus on building roads, attracting tourists, and creating financial security for the upper class. While the PRD fights for more agriculture, better education, corporate taxation,  and the spread of government wealth to rural areas in the country. In past elections the PLD have been getting about 50% of the nations votes, while the PRD earn about 40%. There are other political parties but none of which exceed 2% of the votes. I look forward to the results of the upcoming election, and I believe the outcome might turn out for the better of the Dominican Republic.

Protestas Por La Revolución

Something I forgot to talk about…

Monday of last week was a interesting day. Not only was it my first day of school and my first day alone in the Dominican Republic, but it was my first day experiencing a real strike. The 24 hour strike was called upon by a a group called Falpo. Falpo is supported by leftist organizations, unions, and social professional groups throughout the country and its Barrios. Because of the strike, the military and the national police was called in to make sure everything is calm. Nothing big happened in the capital where I am currently staying, but most of the stores and shops were closed. Most of the non-peaceful protests happen in the smaller areas away from major cities such as Santo Domingo, Santiago, Punta Cana, and Puerta Plata. Last year, there was a strike in the quad of the Universidad Autonoma de Santo Domingo. UASD is located right in front of where my Spanish school is. Back then a police officer shot and killed a protester and since then there was a law past that the police and military cannot enter universidad grounds.This strike was meant to demand its promoters to ask  the government to reduce the price of medicines, fuels and basic staples; an to end to the unrelenting blackouts. The people want an increase in salaries and 4% of the GDP devoted to education. I haven’t had no word on the progress of these demands, but I am pretty sure the elections will be the outcome. The truth is that there have been similar protests such as theses throughout the decade, and we never hear about it.

Here is an example of what went on at a Campos not in the city.

la adaptación de entender

It is the start of my journey to understanding what it means to be a Dominican. For the next month I will eat the food, speak the language, and adapt to the country’s social circumstances. I find it very important to be dedicated to understanding the realities because how can someone even judge or compare the lifestyle of a Dominican, if they have even not fully adapted.

I am all moved in and I have completed my first week of Spanish courses. Since I am in a intermediate level, most of the class is conversations and writing. From 9am-1pm is the regular class that I share with two more students, one 17 year old girl from Switzerland named Urlike, and a 34 year old women named Lanitra from the Bay area in California. From 2-3 I have a private grammar class. I would of never thought that the Spanish language had so much rules. From what what my Professor Alejandra say’s I am really good at speaking Spanish, I have most the pronunciation and translating right, but sometimes I need to be more confident and also practice my grammar. Other than school academics in the school, I had the chance to go on a excursion to the beach twice. Once to the beaches in Boca Chica, a more populated beach that is like 30 minutes from the apartment, and also to Juandulio, a nice close-too-private beach about 2 hours away.

At Boca Chica there are many entrepreneurs who offer massages, sunglasses, sea food, and even personal musicians who will stand an play tunes. Then there are the criminal, such as thieves and con artists. I have also heard that it is a big sex slave territory, and no one really likes to talks about it. I have been to Boca Chica before and it slipped my mind to even look around, but this time I not only got in the water, I also analyzed the people, the tourists, the kids, the hustlers, basically everyone who plays a role in making Boca Chica what it is. The kids (not all) don’t relay on their parents to feed them, the parents relay on selling low wage services and under-priced products to tourists, and the tourists (as sick as it sounds) are there to exploit these people for what they offer and have a good time sipping Presidente beers on the sand. I could not enjoy myself at that beach knowing all of this was happening, not only because the unequality against these mostly hatian descent workers. but because I had to be careful and watch mys stuff as well. Other than me trying to adapt, I had a good time, I enjoyed the water and the sun.

Hola Republica Dominicana!

When I arrived in Santiago international airport I got nervous because I couldn’t find my checked bag. Bag after bag came through the conveyor belt, but mine was no where in site. It wasn’t until almost everyone got their bags, when they informed us that a few bags were almost taken to the wrong plane, and that our bags will be on the way. Within 10 minutes I saw my bag come through and I felt as if  I was smacked in the face with joy and relief. After going through customs, I quickly noticed my father and my cousin Carlito waiting for me. My father has a lot of friends in Santiago so we stopped at a few places, and he showed me off.

While on our two hour drive back from Santiago airport, I got to see some great views. La Vega which is between Santiago and the Capital is a beautiful mountainous Campos (neighborhood), and it is also the location of the counties famous carnivals. I been there before because my grandmother whom lives in New York has a house there. So it was very cool to return.

My father told me that I came at a right time because a few days before I arrived there was nonstop raining and flooding, and the picture you see in the top left is nothing compared to the real damage.

Saturday day I spent the night at my fathers house in Santos Domingo, and I checked into my estudio on sunday. This picture is the house that my apartment is in. I was given my own apartment downstairs with a very nice bathroom, my own kitchen (which If you know me I take advantage of a kitchen), and last but not least a comfortable queen bed. Located in the same house but through separate entrances is a Dominican women named Rosa who acts as a host for other students. Upstairs is a huge apartment that houses other students like me, 2 girls from Switzerland, and one guy from Germany. We quickly became friends, and since they been there longer than me that had a lot to show me.

Class for me began Monday and the Spanish school is located right around the corner from my apartment. That night I fell fast asleep, and in the morning I arrived at school 8:45 am sharp. There, I was greeted with my info packet, some snacks, and a placement test which determined my level of Spanish as Intermediate.

Bem-vindo à Bahia, Brasil!

Touch Down in Salvador, Brazil

First Attempt

I arrived at the airport on time. Checked my bags and got my boarding passes. I hugged and kissed my family at the terminal gate. Removed my shoes and sock from my feet, jacket off my shoulders, and all the contents in my bag. Placed my all my stuff into the gray plastic bin onto the conveyor belt. While I proceeded to walk through the metal detector, I was glad that I did not set off any alarms.

I was so excited that I was a couple of hours from stepping on the plane to go to Miami and then eventually Brazil. I was walking through the terminal trying to find my gate when I heard someone call my name. I turned around to find one of my friends that I went to high school with and we chatted for a while. It was nice to see her but I had to get to my terminal so I said bye and I would catch up with her later.

On my way to my gate I look at the flight board and noticed that my flight was list at a different time. I went over to the gate and they were boarding a flight to Texas. I asked the stewardess and she said that my flight had been delayed so I called Tara and Chandelle immediately to tell them about the situation; my main concern was that I was not going to make my connecting flight to Brazil.

Thankfully I was able to just take the same flight at the same time on Saturday. So I just spent the night at my friend’s house in Boston and took the train to Logan Airport.

Problems Boarding in MIA

Saturday attempted my adventure again and made it to Miami an hour before my flight. Apparently they list the time on the ticket an hour ahead before your plane actually leaves, to make sure you can make you connecting flight. So I was in Miami for about 2 hours so it was not bad. I made it to the right gate and waited until the started to board my flight. The gate waiting area was very crowed so I sat in the next seating area.

Over the intercom they announced, they would give 10 people a free stay at a hotel, breakfast, transportation and $800 voucher if they would go to Brazil tomorrow.  It was temping but I knew I had to make to Brazil on time.

Finally they started to call to seat the plane and they call my section.  A couple of other people and myself were pulled aside because the plane reached it weight restriction. We all stood there waiting to hear if we were able to board the flight or not. The crew made some adjustments and managed to put us all on the plane.

Longest Flight Ever!

I boarded the plane and took my seat near the window over looking the wings. I as I sat in my seat this over whelming feeling came over me knowing that this is the farthest I ever been from home. I was also still concerned about the weight of the plane. I was on the phone with my mom and I was trying to hold back my tears a little.  I was really afraid and my mom managed to calm me down. I said a little prayer and braced myself for the flight. Thankfully the lady that I sat next to has a weird sense of humor. We ran into some bad turbulence and she saw that I was terrified. She turns to me and says, “The worst thing that could happen is we could die.” For some reason I cracked a smile but it was true and it was the main thing that I did not want to happen.  I thought about the turbulence being on a really rocking dirt path to my great grandmothers house and that really seemed to calm me down. With a few hiccups in my journey I made it to Bahia, Brazil and to Cross Cultural Solutions.  The flight from Miami to Brazil 10 hrs.

Adios America

As I wait for my plane to take off from Miami,  I can only anticipate my arrival. Within 3 hours I will be in the Dominican Republic once again. While on my plane from Boston to Miami I was seated next to a young women name Marleny, whom after conversing through the flight I found out that we will be taking the same connecting flight from Miami to Santiago, it was a weird coincidence not only because she was beautiful and we had a lot in common, but by looking at our boarding passes we noticed that we will be seated right next to each other on the next flight as well. Therefore, I had the honor of having a travel companion.

My bloods boiling and the fear of being away for more than a month is what is really making me nervous, but the chance to visit the DR again and to learn about the country through different lens’s is what is fueling my passion. I look forward to observing the social norms and aspects, that really make this country.

Since I have an preexisting idea of what the Dominican Republic is like, I know I wont be dead struck with culture shock. My last visit back in April really was a stepping stone for me to better getting a grip of adapting to different parts of the world, particularly the Dominican Republic. I know there will be times were I would feel out of place and times I will feel uncomfortable but I believe by taking a step back from my social norms I can really understand the country and its people. plus, I know taking Spanish classes for the next two weeks is going to be a bonus for me in terms of advancing my Spanish knowledge.

When I arrive in the Dominican Republic I will fly into Santiago, which is cool because I heard it was a nice small city to see! My father who is also named Freddy should be waiting for me when I arrive. From Santiago I will drive to the Capital (Santo Domingo) were I will check into my estudio and start school Monday. It is almost time for me to board so… Adios

Travel Commencement

Sitting with Jen, Freddy, and Chandelle

All logistics Set for Dominican Republic, Cuba, and Brazil

Spent the class listening to David Foster Wallace’s ‘This is Water’ Commencement Speech

And Reading a talk by David Orr where he says, “

The plain fact is that the planet does not need more “successful” people. But it does desperately need more peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers, and lovers of every shape and form. It needs people who live well in their places. It needs people of moral courage willing to join the fight to make the world habitable and humane. And these needs have little to do with success as our culture has defined it.”

And we’re off!

A Global Citizen: Freddy M. Gonzalez

When I was young I always wondered what other people where thinking.  The idea that everybody thought, acted, and lived the same was my mentality. I didn’t realize that we were all different until I was in kindergarten and I got to really interact with people from different backgrounds, values, and traditions. I figured out that curiosity is human instinct but being normal is not. I believe that there is no such thing in this world that can be termed normal. Arguable, the way someone perceives normal, someone else might not. So to be a global citizen, I had learned that it means to take a step back from my own social norms and to view society in way that allows me to observe, learn, and adapt.

As I continue to journey on into the world I will promise to be cautious as at how I perceive things, and to fully understand that my problems are not other peoples problems. Meaning, the way I will envision solutions will not be bias, but from a sociological and cultural lens.

This summer I plan on going to the Dominican Republic. I chose the DR because rather than going to somewhere with a plan of action, and with the mindset of change and development from a western perspective. I am going there to learn. I feel that I can learn a lot from the everyday Dominicans. The Dominican Republic is a great example of a developing country with lots of entrepreneurial activity and full of people who solve everyday problems, just as much as we see here in some communities in America. The level of creativity that stems from problem solvers in different social and economical backgrounds, and also the mindset of these entrepreneurs is what intrigue me. I had recently had the chance to gather up my savings and visit the DR to meet my father for the first time. Besides the nervousness and 20 years of disconnect, it sort of became clear of who I really was. While in el Capital (Santo Domingo) I observed a lot of entrepreneurial activity that made me really wonder about how I can take what I learn about the way entrepreneurs solved problems, and compare it to a city in America like. What is that mindset that pushes entrepreneurs that come from different parts of the world? What can someone in America learn from someone in Santo Domingo? How are entrepreneurs different or alike? I wish to answer these questions this summer. Stay tuned!

Chandelle, Jen, Adam, Andrea, Freddy, and Harry!

And we're off!! Stay Tuned for Updates...

CU Travel Students make Farewell Gift Bags for one another

During our International Breakfast for travel class the CU Travelers wrote letters of encouragement to one another.  Before that we shared home-cooked foods from each of our countries– Cuba, Brazil, Dominican Republic, and Tanzania!